Patti Smith performs in Bob Dylan's place at Nobel Ceremony

In a career spanning six decades, Bob Dylan's music is loved as much now, as it was then.

But while his music brought people together, the man behind it has always been somewhat elusive.

That was evident when Dylan didn't show up to accept his Nobel Prize in Literature, even though he was the first musician to ever be awarded it. "The thing about the Nobel Prize is that it's just one more notch on the belt, if you like, because [Dylan's] got the Medal of Honour, he's got two doctorates," says prolific Dylan biographer Clinton Heylin.

Dylan's explanation was he was too busy with other commitments, but his failure to show up wasn't exactly helped by the woman he sent in his place - Patti Smith.

She performed Dylan song 'A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall' on his behalf, although that performance quickly fell flat after she forgot the lyrics. "I'm sorry could we try that again? I'm sorry I'm so nervous," she fumbled.

It was always a controversial choice giving the award for literature to a songwriter. Trainspotting author Irvine Welsh tweeted it was a nostalgia award wrenched from the rancid prostates of senile, gibbering hippies. Recognition of this sort is all too frequent for someone of Dylan's stature. "I mean if you're Bob Dylan, at this point they arrive in the post don't they!" Mr Heylin says. The Swedish Academy that decides the Nobel Prize winners says it respects his decision - and perhaps if they did their research, it's not that surprising.